Holmes’ Lasting Legacy

OFA may be turning 80 this year, but the national association of floriculture professionals is anything but stodgy or set in its ways, thanks to the passionate and assertive leadership provided by CEO John Holmes the last seven years.

Like everyone else, we were stunned when John died from a heart attack on Feb. 12 at age 45. Our staff had just dined with him and his staff in Louisville at American Nursery & Landscape Association’s (ANLA) Management Clinic.

When John was hired as executive director in February 2002, it marked the beginning of a new era for OFA. For the first six decades, OFA was managed by revered faculty from The Ohio State University (OSU) in Columbus as the Ohio Florists Association. OFA became a national organization through the spread of OSU floriculture grads along with Short Course emerging as the most important trade show serving greenhouse floriculture in the United States.

In 1992, OFA hired an allied industry trade representative Dennis Kirven to be the first non-faculty executive director. When Dennis was ready to retire, the board agreed it was time to hire a true association professional without previous ties to our industry to take OFA to the next level. I believe John truly exceeded expectations in realizing OFA’s potential as a national, profitable and influential organization.

I was immediately impressed by how much he traveled to learn the industry, visiting growers and retailers in the United States and overseas. He also was actively engaged in other industry organizations and their events. Instead of just sending in a check to ANLA or Society of American Florists to support lobbying efforts, he took part and looked for ways to support organizations that fund industry research. He was everywhere and made OFA’s presence and leadership role known.

These years of outreach and relationship building lead to more opportunities for OFA to diversify its activities while assisting other organizations. Even in the association and tradeshow business, growth is necessary to sustain and expand programs and services while developing and retaining talented staff. John was very cognizant of the fact there just aren’t enough industry dollars and volunteer hours to support redundant efforts. That is why he was always looking to partner with other industry groups.

He had a keen sense of what OFA’s strengths are–administrative management and hosting educational events and trade shows. This past year, his vision of OFA becoming an expanded management organization became a reality with the management of the Southeast Greenhouse Conference, Ball Publishing’s conferences, Nursery & Landscape Association Executives of North America and the Ohio Produce Growers & Marketers Association.

Did he make waves and enemies along the way? Sure. That’s what happens when you challenge the status quo, speak your mind and say what others may not want to hear. Last year’s showdown between past OFA presidents and current leadership over bylaws changes was very much an indictment of how they felt about John and the directions he took the organization.

John also developed deep friendships and lasting loyalties based on honesty, care and respect. His employees and colleagues valued him as a close friend and mentor. Over seven years, I really enjoyed seeing my friends on the OFA staff shine and realize their potential. John was a strong believer in professional development and providing opportunities for growth. His staff and the board benefited from training in leadership and strategic planning, which will help OFA serve our industry better tomorrow.

I had the opportunity to work with John on many industry initiatives, including America In Bloom (AIB), the future of Floriculture Industry Research & Scholarship Trust (FIRST) and exploring ways the industry could market itself collectively to grow the pie for all, locally and nationally.

One moment of truth or reality check I had with John came in December 2004 during our AIB board meeting. We didn’t have a host city for the 2005 symposium, so I proposed chairing a regional hosting in Northeast Ohio in downtown Cleveland. While the city itself had not been in the program, we had strong participation in surrounding suburbs and Akron.

John told me I had a big heart but that I was crazy. He knew I already had a lot on my plate as the incoming president of FIRST, group editor of three magazines and mother of three growing boys. How would we make this work on such short notice? The symposium program would need to be finalized within five months. John fully committed the OFA staff to planning and executing the event with our quickly assembled local steering committee and it was one of our most successful events.

For two years after that, John joked about my need for “an intervention” so that I would stop volunteering for more than I could handle. I’m happy to say the intervention was successful and that I’m cured. He helped me see the light.

John had a real knack for cutting through clutter and reining in chaos. I would say he performed many interventions and made us all better for it. Our industry’s leadership is a lot more focused, engaged and efficient thanks to my friend John Holmes.

Holmes’ Industry Vision In December, John played a role in the success of our commemorative 25th anniversary issue as one of 25 industry leaders who forecasted the future of our industry. John, of course, wrote about the importance of industry associations., in which he explains some of the ways industry associations should be supporting members and facilitating growth over the next 25 years.

John was a regular at SAF events, especially at CAD where he was very adept at conveying the floral industries issues to our representatives on the hill. I will miss him there this year and in the future.

Thanks Delilah, for your summary of John’s legacy for OFA and our industry. He had the vision to take OFA to the next level, growing the organization. You’re either moving ahead or getting behind. He moved ahead. Nona

John was a regular at SAF events, especially at CAD where he was very adept at conveying the floral industries issues to our representatives on the hill. I will miss him there this year and in the future.

Thanks Delilah, for your summary of John’s legacy for OFA and our industry. He had the vision to take OFA to the next level, growing the organization. You’re either moving ahead or getting behind. He moved ahead. Nona

What will be the next big perennial? Breeders say it takes more than a splashy plant to distinguish itself in the market. Therefore, the question is not what will be the next big perennial, but rather what perennial performs well enough in the garden to have staying power in the market for years to come.

The industry's goal is to have loyal customers who return to the same plants time and time again, not because of price, but owing to a plant brand that shouts top-notch garden performance and is synonymous with excellence, which gives them the secure knowledge that their investment will be worth every hard-earned cent.

The 2015 International Trials Conference will be held in conjunction with this year's Farwest Show in Portland, Oregon. The conference focuses on the
latest research and techniques for trialing annual, perennial and woody plants.

Friends and colleagues are mourning the death of Joe Lutey, 32, who died January 21, 2015. Lutey's passion for both growing and garden retail had an impact on the industry. He participated on various industry advisory boards and brought fresh ideas that improved both Wojo's Greenhouse and the industry as a whole.

Welcome to the Greenhouse Grower July 2013 links page. Visit this page for all the links to videos, photos and online-only content referenced in the July 2013 issue of Greenhouse Grower. Scroll down to see our More Online content for this month and click on the link. Savour Basil Trees Introduced By Pacific Plug And LinerPacific Plug & Liner’s new grafted basil plant brings a consumer-friendly presentation to a traditional herb product. Food Safety Practices at Green City GrowersGraham Tucker, general manager of Green City Growers in Cleveland, Ohio, talks about how sticking to food safety practices is of paramount importance at the 10-acre hydroponic lettuce and leafy greens production greenhouse. Vegetalis Delivers Bigger, Better Patio Tomatoes Allan Armitage says Floranova and Vegetalis are going beyond small patio varieties to develop big, abundant fruit for patio vegetable consumers. Dümmen North America Wins The Medal Of Excellence For MarketingDümmen North America’s Confetti […]

Voting Period. Readers’ Choice voting begins on June 28 and ends on July 14, 2014 at 12:01 P.M. ET. Who Can Vote. Growers, retailers, educators, suppliers, allieds and all members of the horticulture industry. Frequency of Voting. One vote per user is permitted in each semi-final category (Annuals, Perennials and Best of the Rest) and one vote is permitted in the final round, which will select the Readers’ Choice winner. Meister Media and Greenhouse Grower reserve the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any votes it finds to be tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the voting or violating the rules. How To Vote. Voting takes place at GreenhouseGrower.com/readerschoice Variety Eligibility. Varieties eligible for the Readers’ Choice award include those that were not commercially available to growers in North America before January 1, 2014. Entrants need not be displayed at California Spring Trials. Judging and Selection of Winners. There […]

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Greenhouse Grower is pleased to announce the return of Laura Drotleff to our editorial team. Drotleff is rejoining the staff as managing editor for both Greenhouse Grower and its sister publication, Today’s Garden Center. Many of you will remember Drotleff from her previous stint with our magazine. She grew up on a farm and earned a B.S. in Agriculture and Natural Resources Communications at Michigan State before joining Greenhouse Grower in 1999. She traveled to Europe, Asia and Central America to cover the floriculture market for Greenhouse Grower and was an active participant in the industry, serving with FloraStar and other industry association committees. She was also part of the launch of Today’s Garden Center in 2004. Drotleff stepped away from the magazine in 2006 to start a family, but has remained active in the floriculture industry as a frequent contributor to both Greenhouse Grower and Today’s Garden Center and […]

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On behalf of Linda Gail Barnett, Stuppy’s Greenhouse Manufacturing issued the following statement: Linda Gail Barnett, the Vice President of greenhouse sales at Stuppy Greenhouse Manufacturing, died Oct. 27 at the North Kansas City Hospital. Linda was employed at Stuppy’s for 40 years before retiring July 2010. She marketed and sold greenhouses all across the United States as well as internationally. She was instrumental in the success, development and sale of new products for Stuppy. She also contributed her ideas to many equipment and covering manufacturers in the horticultural industry. She held an honorary degree from the state of Missouri and the FFA.

The plant world lost one of its most knowledgeable and passionate members on Oct. 18, 2012 with the death of Harlan Hamernik, founder of Bluebird Nursery in Clarkson, Neb. Hamernik, 76, died following an explosion and fire at his home in Clarkson. The cause of the explosion is being in investigated, but authorities have ruled out foul play and believe it was accidental. Hamernik’s Life And Legacy Hamernik and his wife, Shirley, founded Bluebird Nursery in 1958. The nursery now has three locations in Clarkson, growing more than 2,000 varieties of perennials, herbs, grasses and wildflowers. The Hamerniks’ three sons, Tom, Chuck and Mike now run the nursery. While Hamernik was considered one of the most knowledgeable plantsmen in the business, his passion to learn more never waned. He went on exploration trips to China, Inner Mongolia and Tibet, searching for new plants to bring back, introducing many of them […]

Welcome to the Greenhouse Grower October 2012 links page. Visit this page for all the links to videos, photos and online-only content referenced in the October 2012 issue of Greenhouse Grower. Scroll down to see our More Online content for this month and click on the link. Jerry Montgomery’s Spring 2012 Retail Reports Atlanta Baltimore Charlotte Cleveland Columbus Philadelphia Southern Florida Southern California Lantana Culture NotesUse this advice from Syngenta Flowers on this heat-loving annual to grow a healthy crop. QR Codes: MasterTag Share The Power Of The TagWith online resources, plant tags can be more powerful than ever. Gerry Giorgio explains how MasterTag is working to take advantage of the power of the tag, including using QR codes. 10% Projects In Depth Who Is Your Customer? Today’s Garden Center and Emory University professor Susan Hogan team up to help Lakeview Nurseries better understand their customers and, ultimately, increase […]

Because we’ve always done it that way.” What do you think of that phrase? For me, there are few phrases in my professional life that I dislike hearing more. Why do I dislike it so much? Because it’s usually in answer to me or someone else questioning methods or materials in order to explore ways of doing things better. If the answer to “Why do we use XYZ supplier?” is, “Because we’ve always used them,” instead of “Because they have the best rates, or the best service, etc.,” it might be time to make a few calls. Make sure the reasons for which you first chose them are still true today. At Greenhouse Grower, it’s a question we always need to keep asking ourselves. Does our workflow still make sense as digital media continues to gain traction? Is there a good reason for always covering a given topic in […]

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